---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 299b"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "299b"
heading: "Health care outcome improvement research"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/299b"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter VII — Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality"
  - "Part B — Health Care Improvement Research"
---

# §299b. Health care outcome improvement research

- (a) **Evidence rating systems—** In collaboration with experts from the public and private sector, the [Agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) shall identify and disseminate methods or systems to assess health care research results, particularly methods or systems to rate the strength of the scientific evidence underlying health care practice, recommendations in the research literature, and technology assessments. The [Agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) shall make methods or systems for evidence rating widely available. [Agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) publications containing health care recommendations shall indicate the level of substantiating evidence using such methods or systems.
- (b) **Health care improvement research centers and provider-based research networks—**
  - (1) **In general—** In order to address the full continuum of care and outcomes research, to link research to practice improvement, and to speed the dissemination of research findings to community practice settings, the [Agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) shall employ research strategies and mechanisms that will link research directly with clinical practice in geographically diverse locations throughout the United States, including—
    - (A) health care improvement research centers that combine demonstrated multidisciplinary expertise in outcomes or quality improvement research with linkages to relevant sites of care;
    - (B) [provider](/usc/42/299b–21.md?p=8)-based research networks, including plan, facility, or delivery system sites of care (especially primary care), that can evaluate outcomes and evaluate and promote quality improvement; and
    - (C) other innovative mechanisms or strategies to link research with clinical practice.
  - (2) **Requirements—** The [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) is authorized to establish the requirements for entities applying for grants under this subsection.

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IX, § 911, as added Pub. L. 106–129, § 2(a), Dec. 6, 1999, 113 Stat. 1656.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 299b, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IX, § 911, as added Pub. L. 101–239, title VI, § 6103(a), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2192; amended Pub. L. 102–410, § 5(b), Oct. 13, 1992, 106 Stat. 2097, related to establishment of Office of the Forum for Quality and Effectiveness in Health Care, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 106–129.

Another prior section 299b, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IX, § 902, as added Oct. 6, 1965, Pub. L. 89–239, § 2, 79 Stat. 927; amended Oct. 15, 1968, Pub. L. 90–574, title I, § 103, 82 Stat. 1005; Oct. 30, 1970, Pub. L. 91–515, title I, §§ 104, 111(b), 84 Stat. 1299, 1301, defined terms for purposes of this subchapter, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 99–117, § 12(d), Oct. 7, 1985, 99 Stat. 495.